Altered Books: On the Potential of Found Objects in Therapy

‘Altered books’ are a great starting point for utilising creativity in the therapeutic space, providing a joyful and disruptive experience that offers a progressive process for co-creation and self-knowledge. Inspired by the Dada movement and New Materialism, the practice of altering found objects for self-expression and meaning making can be extended to the therapeutic encounter in productive ways.

Merging personal expression with synergies and the words on the page, ‘Altered books’ invite experiences that are born of resonances and memories; becoming art pieces made by changing the role and appearance of existing books into vessels for new and unexpected ideas. Experience adopting a variety of simple techniques, such as covering, folding, painting, or collage, to create and explore a process of self-discovery that is ‘bound’, using the live moment to transform and respond to the page and its evocative power.

Essential materials: An unwanted book (you can buy a book that you are happy to re-purpose at a flea market/second-hand store/charity shop or from a community book-swap). Pens, pencils, oil pastels, markers, glue stick (or tape), magazine/newspaper cut-outs.

The session will offer a live experiential activity for you to experience the possibility of utilising found objects as accessible creative vessels for self-expression. Clients can adopt this process as a rhythmic tool each time you meet.

*Testimonials*

"I enjoyed the opportunity to treat myself to creative play under the guise of CPD"

"This has introduced me to a tool that I can offer my clients but also to myself. The altered book that I have just started with Francesca will become a creative outlet that feels achievable when I'm pushed for time and space"

"A really nicely paced session. Informative, with Francesca offering us a good mix of theory and experiential practice"

Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event

• Learn to integrate arts-based and play methods to evoke self-discovery and healing, and generate new ways of thinking through synergies, populating a tangible repository of experiences over time.
• Employ a process of intra-action (Barad) to engage self-expression, joy and healing.
• This workshop offers an evocative experience and a tool for transformation (tangible and processual), creative play and self-discovery that are generative and can be ‘held’ in material form.

Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?

• Anyone hoping to engage in reflection and meaning-making through and beyond words: therapists, coaches and socially-engaged practitioners.

How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?

• Expand your therapeutic offer by adopting an accessible creative outlet for co-creation and self-expression, transcending and extending word-based interactions. Especially helpful when working with clients who speak English as a second or additional language.

ZOOM 

This event will be hosted on the Zoom meeting platform where we will use our cameras and microphones to interact with each other as a group.

SELF-SELECT FEE

The self-select fee is a radical inclusion policy to open learning for all colleagues. The guide price for this event is £20.00, however, we appreciate that income varies greatly in different locations and circumstances. Please contribute what you can to help us maintain inclusive professional training.

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At Onlinevents, we and the presenters we collaborate with are committed to working in a way that aligns with the ethical codes and frameworks of our respective professional organisations. We expect all colleagues attending our events to uphold the ethical principles of their professional membership.

If you are not a member of a professional organisation, we ask that you participate in a way that is both authentic and respectful, fostering a space of mutual learning and professional engagement.

By registering for this event, you agree to be present and interact in a manner that reflects these principles.

Dr Francesca Bernardi PhD, CATA/ACAT

Dr. Francesca Bernardi PhD is an advocate, author, coach, and artist, with expertise in MA supervision, dis/ability and community engagement. Francesca has an extensive background as a teacher and artist-in-residence, working with children and adults in various settings, including schools, alternative provision, further and higher education, corporate settings, museums, and public spaces (including TATE and the RSA.org).

She's dedicated to working with parents and caregivers of children and young people with dis/abilities who have experienced school exclusions and other forms of social discrimination. Francesca engages in multi-disciplinary and arts-informed practices with marginalized communities, and individuals experiencing loss and homelessness. Her approach is non-hierarchical, socially just, and creative, aiming to nourish healing and personal agency while honouring the wholeness of individuals’ personhood, choices, and capabilities.